Second Foundation celebrates expansion
Second Foundation Consulting celebrated their move from an 8,000 sq foot space, to a 20, 000+ sq foot space -to accommodate the tremendous growth they’ve enjoyed over the past two years , with an Open House in December.  Guests were provided a tour of the new facilities and anyone who was unable to attend the event is invited to stop by and take a tour.  Their new location is 45 Washburn Drive in Kitchener.

Second Foundation helps companies to improve, integrate or further analyze their business processes, software functionality, scale or scope of operations. Second Foundation specializes in process assessment, integration, implementation, service, maintenance, and sales for Epicor®, Microsoft®, and Sage software solutions.

The Cake Box opens second location
The Cake Box has been in downtown Kitchener – located across from the Eatons Lofts on King Street – since 2007.  Owner Yvonne Zensner and her staff have received much acclaim for their unique cakes and cupcakes.   Yvonne has completed the Masters of Cake Decoration and Confectionary Arts in Toronto and has studied with renowned sugar artists outside of Canada.  The Cake Box2 has now opened in St. Jacobs where Yvonne will be adding staff to accommodate her thriving business.

Open Text expands
Construction will begin this summer on Open Text’s second location in the UW Research & Technology Park.  Their current building is three stories and 113,000 square feet.  Their new building will be larger, with five stories and 120,000 square feet.  This will bring the capacity of their head quarters campus to one quarter of a million square feet.

Open Text is Canada’s largest software company specializing in enterprise software and a leader in enterprise content management.  This upcoming expansion will allow them to grow their workforce from the current 700 to an impressive 1500 employees.  This expansion plan will enable Open Text to keep pace with their anticipated customer growth.

WestJet adds Vancouver non-stop daily service from the Region of Waterloo International Airport
As part of an enhanced summer schedule, WestJet will launch seasonal non-stop daily service to Vancouver from the Region of Waterloo International Airport starting June 27, 2010. 

The addition of the Vancouver flight will provide guest's travelling from Waterloo Region with the option to connect on to a number of destinations in the United States including Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Honolulu.

This new service is in addition to WestJet’s non-stop daily service to Calgary from Waterloo Region which launched in May 2007.  This current service provides connections to a number of Western Canadian destinations including Vancouver, Edmonton, Victoria, Abbotsford, Kelowna, Regina and Saskatoon. 

KPMG – a Family-Friendly Employer
For the 8th time, KPMG has been recognized as one of Canada's Top 25 Family-Friendly Employers.

Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers is an annual competition to recognize employers offering the nation's most progressive and forward-thinking programs for employees with young children. The employers on this list are recognized for their leadership in helping employees attain a work/life balance.

This year, the editors reviewed more than 75,000 employers across Canada and invited 24,000 of those to apply.

"Once again, we are proud to be included on this prestigious list," said Mario Paron, KPMG's Chief Human Resources Officer. "KPMG recognizes that in order to recruit and retain top-quality candidates, it is important to respect their time with their families and provide the flexibility needed to ensure this happens."

Chamber members Class 1 Inc. and Spirited Investors join forces
Spirited Investors Corporation and Class 1 Inc. recently announced the creation of a strategic alliance which will expand the growth of both companies.

Class 1 is a Canadian leader in medical gas equipment with plans to bring the value of its Canadian products and services to market around the globe.  Based in Cambridge,  Class 1 serves the medical, specialty and academic sectors from coast-to-coast. Local clients include Grand River Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital and Cambridge Memorial Hospital, as well as the Universities of Guelph and Waterloo.   

Spirited Investors Corporation, with head offices in Kitchener, is a private-equity company created in 2007 by Waterloo Region business entrepreneurs. Spirited Investors’ goal is to help local businesses by providing financial support and expert advice.

Sun Life Financial selected one of the 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World
Sun Life Financial Inc. was named one of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World in an announcement at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Global 100 includes companies from 24 countries representing all sectors of the economy.

Sun Life Financial is one of only nine Canadian corporations and the only North American insurance company named to the Global 100 list which was released in late January.

In addition to its Global 100 ranking, Sun Life Financial is also listed on the FTSE4Good Index and the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America.

Traces Screen Printing Ltd. celebrates 25 years
Traces Screen Printing opened its doors on October 1st, 1985, and is pleased to be celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Best known as in-house textile screen printers, designers and award-winning craftspeople and product developers, Tracey Johnston-Aldworth and Traces Screen Printing are also award winning environmental activists, community volunteers and strong community supporters.

Traces is a long-time supporter and benefactor to a number of community groups and initiatives including Waterloo Busker Carnival, Big Brothers of Kitchener-Waterloo, Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival, K-W Opera Company, YWCA, The Waterloo 10K Run, Oktoberfest Run, WLUSU, KW Skating Club, Fragile X, Hospice of Waterloo Region and the United Way.

BDO Celebrates its rising talent
BDO Kitchener’s Financial Advisory Team, partners and staff are pleased to congratulate Pat Klann on achieving his Chartered Business Valuator designation (DBV).  This is the premier credential for professional business valuators in Canada.

Pat is an active member of the Chamber Plus Network.

Historic St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Marks 175th Anniversary
On Sunday, January 3, 2010, a special anniversary service was conducted at Historic St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Queen Street South in downtown Kitchener to recognize 175 years on the current site.

The gathering was the first in a series of events throughout the upcoming year to acknowledge the many years of service the church has provided to the community. Historic St. Paul’s recently joined our Chamber and is forging links with the local neighbourhood association and The Working Centre.

The architect of the current building was Jonas Knechtel, who also designed the nearby Walper Terrace Hotel, Courtland Avenue Public School, and King Edward Public School. Historic St. Paul’s is the oldest among many Lutheran Churches in Kitchener.  

Congratulations to Rev. Mark Hartburg and the members of Historic St. Paul’s on this significant milestone for the church and community.  

Union Gas and United Way partner on Winter Warmth Program
During this period of economic uncertainty, Union Gas is partnering with the United Way to assist low-income families who experience major difficulties with paying their heating bills.

The Winter Warmth program, administered by United Way with sponsorship from Union Gas and other organizations across the energy sector, provides grants to those in need of financial assistance for heating expenses. The participants in the program possess the required expertise and knowledge to assess individual needs and coordinate access to the most appropriate support programs.  This is the fourth consecutive year that Union Gas has participated in this community service initiative.

Connie Deckert – and Fore U Enterprises - is back with LPGA
Nearly forty years has passed since Connie Deckert, an Elmira District Secondary School graduate, left the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour.  She is back with the organization now to pursue her dedication to the sport by teaching the game she loves so much to others.

Deckert played on the LPGA tour as a 21-year-old in 1972. She left professional golf to work for her father’s muffler manufacturing business, Motivair Canada, where she eventually became president and CEO.

She recently sold the Elmira company, and now is focused on Fore U Enterprises, which offers golf instruction for both private individuals and corporate groups. Deckert is qualified as an instructor through the Canadian Golf Teachers Federation and now is certified through the LPGA.

Chicopee, Ulmer Realty and Logels honoured at Kitchener City Hall
Longstanding local businesses were honoured at Kitchener City Hall in February during the bi-annual Kitchener Business Heritage Celebration 2010.

Among the honorees – Chamber member Chicopee Ski and Summer Resort which was established in 1934.  Ulmer Realty Ltd. saw its start in 1959 – the same year that Logel’s Auto Parts was established.

First begun in 1987, the awards celebration is designed to publicly recognize and highlight the milestone achievements of Kitchener businesses that have made a longstanding commitment to doing business in Kitchener

Pioneer Craftsmen recognized by Canadian Home Builders’ Association
Pioneer Craftsmen Ltd. was recently chosen as a Finalist in the Canadian Home Builders’ Association’s 2009 National SAM Awards for the Home Renovation (Addition) category. The awards celebrate excellence in new homes and renovation design, innovative technology and construction techniques. 

Ken Adam founded the company in 1953.  His father, Gary Adam changed the focus of the business to residential renovations in the 1970’s.

Gowlings appoints Managing Partner for local office
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP recently announced the appointment of Ross Wells as Managing Partner of the firm’s Waterloo Region office.

Ross practices labour and employment law and has represented clients in the Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.  Ross is a Past Chair of the Board of Directors for the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

For more news and updates on the greater KW business community, see the Advocate!